Dusty May's Championship Homecoming: When Your Family Becomes Part of March Madness History

A few minutes before midnight on Monday at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Anna May stood on a confetti-covered court watching "One Shining Moment" play across the big screens overhead. Her hand covered her mouth. The look on her face said it all: disbelief. Her family had just become part of college basketball legend.

Michigan had just won the national championship, defeating UConn 69-63. And here's the thing that made it even more special: the game happened in Indianapolis, roughly an hour away from where Anna and her husband, Michigan head coach Dusty May, both grew up.

A Homecoming Nobody Saw Coming

After a coaching career that took him all over the map, Dusty May had circled back to Indiana for the biggest moment of his professional life. Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel reflected on the moment, saying he's "glad [May is] staying," especially after speculation swirled around the open North Carolina job. But May made his choice clear: he's locked in with the Wolverines.

"It doesn't feel real," Dusty May said after the win.

On a night when Michigan didn't play perfect basketball but found a way to win the fight, May showed the sideline savvy that's quickly placed him among the sport's elite coaches. It was his second national title in the program's history, and it solidified his place at the top tier.

The Full May Family Circle

Anna May estimated around a hundred family members and friends packed into Lucas Oil Stadium for the celebration. They came from rural Greene County, Indiana, where both Dusty and Anna grew up. College friends from Dusty's time as an Indiana manager and Anna's time at Purdue were there too.

Their younger sons lived this full-circle moment all season. Eli, a sophomore manager at Michigan, was positioned on top of the ladder when "One Shining Moment" started playing. Charlie, a senior walk-on, was caught up in the locker room chaos and couldn't watch the video. "I can't wait to watch 'One Shining Moment,'" he shouted in the moment.

Their oldest son Jack even made a quick appearance, getting a break from his job in the Miami Heat video room to join the celebration.

"It's special because so many people could be a part of it," Anna May told ESPN. "But it would be special anywhere."

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.